A collaborative scientific body consisting of scientists from India and France is setting new standards in international collaboration, delivering value for the partners while upholding the scientific spirit.
The Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR) has supported 440 projects from the day of its inception, 25 years ago, of which 337 have been completed. About 1,169 research publications have resulted from the projects in basic science supported by the Centre. Twenty-seven of the papers have received more than 100 citations. According to a scientific study, the contribution of IFCPAR to India-France collaborative research is about 30-35 per cent.
The Centre also supports industrial research activities in both the countries. It has also launched a project with commercial value.
IFCPAR, celebrating its silver jubilee year, is supported by both the Indian and French governments. It is engaged in promoting joint research between Indian and French scientists through funding of collaborative research projects in a variety of fields including mathematics, computer science, astronomy, chemical engineering and life sciences.
“Despite being non-commercial in nature, CEFIPRA has been delivering value-for-money for both the countries,” Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, said.
CEFIPRA is the first cooperation of its kind between the Government of India and another country.